Account Director

Company description

Publicis Groupe Africa is a leading marketing, communications, and business transformation network operating across 36 African countries, combining creativity, technology, and local insight to deliver integrated client solutions.

Publicis Groupe Africa is part of Publicis Groupe, the second-largest communications group globally, founded in 1926. The African network operates as a partnership of 44 communications agencies with offices spanning 36 countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, and many others.

Its headquarters are in Johannesburg and Cape Town, providing a central hub for continental operations.

Overview

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Client Leadership | PR and Communications | Commercial Control | Growth

THE OPPORTUNITY

Telecommunications is one of the most dynamic categories in the market, sitting at the intersection of technology, culture, connectivity, customer experience and everyday life. This role offers the opportunity to work with a leading telecommunications client and help shape the next generation of its agency partnership.

We are building a connected, future-fit model that brings together creativity, intelligence, data, technology, AI and world-class execution around the customer. It is an opportunity to influence the work and the capabilities we build, creating a partnership designed for today’s challenges and what comes next.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Account Director leads the client relationship, account team and commercial performance of an assigned communications portfolio. The role acts as a trusted adviser, translating business priorities into effective PR and integrated communication programmes while ensuring reliable delivery against the agreed scope.

The role retains a strong earned-media and reputation focus, working with wider Publicis capabilities where the brief requires integration. It combines senior client counsel, team development, writing and media judgement with financial discipline, proactive growth and responsible AI adoption.

Responsibilities

CLIENT LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY

• Build a thorough understanding of the client’s business, stakeholders and competitors, and develop strategic and tactical communication proposals.

• Lead key client meetings and reviews, manage expectations and resolve issues early, escalating material risks to senior leadership.

• Oversee account plans, calendars, contact reports and status information so the team delivers a coordinated and dependable service.

CONTENT AND MEDIA RELATIONS

• Guide writing and editing across the portfolio and ensure specialist content teams receive clear briefs and quality expectations.

• Lead media-relations planning, maintain strong South African media knowledge and relationships, and guide relevant story development and pitching.

• Oversee media lists, news monitoring, coverage tracking and reporting; share timely opportunities and distinguish coverage activity from meaningful outcomes.

COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT AND GROWTH

• Track scope, hours, fees and billing with Finance and Operations, maintaining accurate timesheets and visibility of portfolio profitability.

• Ensure new work and scope changes are estimated and approved; identify resource or delivery risks that threaten client value or margin.

• Develop proposals, identify retention and organic-growth opportunities and coordinate relevant Publicis expertise for integrated solutions.

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND QUALITY

• Delegate clearly to account managers and executives while retaining accountability for timely completion and quality.

• Coach the team, conduct performance reviews and support recruitment, development and capability building.

• Review reports, presentations and client communication, improving processes and sharing knowledge across the account team.

AI CAPABILITY AND FUTURE WAYS OF WORKING

• Lead practical use of approved AI in research synthesis, monitoring, proposal development and reporting; verify sources and claims, protect reputation-sensitive information and retain human judgement in client and media counsel.

• Demonstrate effective prompting, iteration and critical evaluation. Use only approved tools and data, protect client information and intellectual property, and retain human accountability for final work.

• Share practical learning, recognise tool limitations and measure improvements in quality, speed or effectiveness; escalate uncertain or inappropriate outputs.

• MEASURES OF SUCCESS

  • Trusted client relationships, retention and consistent delivery against scope.
  • Strong content, relevant media engagement and reporting linked to communication objectives.
  • Healthy commercial performance, accurate billing and credible growth opportunities.
  • A developing account team using AI effectively with clear editorial and reputational controls.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated account-director-level experience leading PR or communications portfolios and client-service teams.

• Strong knowledge of the South African media landscape, with proven media relationships, writing and pitching capability.

• Experience managing scope, profitability, reporting and staff development; familiarity with Chase or comparable account systems.

• Practical experience implementing AI in communications work, with examples of validated outputs, team adoption and measurable benefit.

• CRITICAL CAPABILITIES

  • Senior client counsel, communication strategy and earned-media judgement.
  • Commercial management, delegation, coaching and persuasive presentation.
  • AI-enabled account workflows, evidence checking and responsible adoption leadership.

Additional information

Publicis Groupe Africa is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan.

All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to candidates from designated groups. Interested candidates must please submit a concise CV including a link to your portfolio if necessary. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

PUBLICIS VALUES

Trust through respect, transparency and accountability. Talent through collaboration, development and high standards. Transformation through curiosity, continuous learning and improvements that create value for clients.